Means for taking readings of meter-dials



(No Model.) I

A. B. HERRIGK. MEANS-FOR TAKING READINGS OF METER-DEALS.

Patented Aug. 29 18.93.

FIG. 4.

FIG. I.

I NVENTOR:

By his Attorneys,

WTNESS M UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT B. HERRICK, OF SOl-IENEOTADY, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE GENERALELECTRIC COMPANY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

MEANS FOR TAKING READINGS OF METER-DIALS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 504,159, dated August29, 1893.

Application filed June 18, 1892. Serial No. 436,561. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ALBERT B. HERRIOK, a citizen of the United States,residing at Schenectady, in the county of Schenectady and State of NewYork,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Means forTaking Readings of Meter-Dials, of which the following is aspecification.

The indications aiforded by the dials of gas meters, water meters,electric meters, &c., are commonly taken by an employ who visits themeters from time to time and records the date, the number of the meter,and the reading of the meter, in a book carried by him for that purpose.

The object of the present invention is to provide a means by which anindisputable record may be taken from meter dials in lieu of the systemof recording heretofore practiced. To this end, I construct the dial ofthe meter in such manner that an indented 0r punctured impression may betaken from it upon a sheet or strip of paper or other suitable materialwhich is or should be printed with a facsimile of the markings upon thedial. The impression thus made upon the facsimile indicates upon thelatter the position of the hands upon the dial, so that a reading may bemade from the facsimile the same as from the dial itself, and thefacsimile may be dated and preserved for reference in case of dispute.In order to identify the facsimile with the particular meter from whichthe impression was taken, the dial of the meter is provided with acharacteristic mark peculiar to itself, preferably a number, so appliedto it that the impression is made from this mark or number upon thefacsimile at the same time that the impression is made from the hands. Iprovide for making the impression by means of pricking or puncturing thefacsimile. To accomplish this, I provide each hand with an outwardlyprojecting point or spur near its outer end, so that upon pressing thefacsimile against the dial, the spurs upon the several hands will prickthrough the paper of the facsimile, making punctures therein having thesame relation to the particular graduations printed upon the facsimilethat the points of the hands have to the numbers or graduations markedupon the dial, so that by the position of these pricks or punctures uponthe facsimile the angular positions of the hands upon the dial will beclearly indicated. The characteristic mark or number of the dial isprovided by grouping a series of needle points, so that by the sameimpressing operation these points shall prick into the facsimile thenumber characteristic of the meter. To enable the impression to bereadily and accurately taken on the facsimile, I provide a movable pador platen having a yielding surface against which the facsimile is held,and having also some means of properly guiding it to the dial of themeter, in direction parallel with the needles so that the operation oftaking a reading consists simply in fastening the sheet of papercontaining the facsimile to the face of the pad or platen, and pressingthe latter against the dial of the meter in the positions indicated bythe guides. Preferably the facsimile is made with two leaves by foldinga sheet of paper printed with two facsimiles so that the two aresuperposed, and in this manner the impression is pricked simultaneouslythrough both, so that one of them maybe retained by the company orpurveyor owning the meter, and the other may be delivered as a voucherto the customer Whose consumption of a commodity is indicated by themeter.

Figure l of the accompanying drawings is a front view of the dial-plateor face of any suitable kind of meter, as for example a water meter, thedial being constructed or provided with means for making an impressionin accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 shows a printed facsimile onwhich a reading or record has been taken from the meter dial shown inFig. 1. Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing one of the hands of thedial shown in Fig. 1. Figs. 4 and 5 are respectively a face view and avertical transverse section of the pad or platen for carrying thefacsimile. Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the meter dialand pad or platenshowing the operation of making the impression.

The meter-dial shown in Fig. 1 is of an or dinary kind, having a seriesof revolving hands moving over graduated circles indicating respectivelyunits, tens, hundreds, thousands, &c. In the construction shown eachhand is provided as shown in Fig. 3 With a pricking point, needle, orspur a. This spur is preferably constructed with a shoulder, and isriveted to the end portion of the hand from underneath before the handis forced on its IO spindle. The meter number is formed of a series ofneedle points projecting from the dial face, as shown at b in Figs. 1and 6. In the construction shown the meter-dial is formed with fourguiding pins 0 c projecting outward from its surface.

The facsimile (Z, shown in Fig. 2, is a piece of paper or similar fabrichaving printed thereon circles and graduations like those on themeter-dial. On being impressed against the meter-dial the spurs on thehands thereof prick holes through the paper, as shown by the black dotsain Fig. 2, therebyindicating the angular positions of the hands. At thesame time the needles Z2 prick through the paper the number orcharacteristic mark of the meter, as shown at b in Fig. 2.

The pad or platen shown in Figs. 4, 5, and 6 consists of a plate orblock 6 adapted to hold the paper sheet or facsimile, and havingpreferably a handle f by which to grasp it.

In the face of the plate 6 is preferably embedded a cushion g, which maybe of any yielding material, as cloth, felt, or rubber. The facsimile isplaced against the face of 3 5 this, as shown at (Z, and held in itsplace by any suitable means. In the construction shown a metal plate oropen frame h is provided against the face of the platen, adapted to holdthe facsimile either at the corners as 0 shown ati i, or by slightlyoverlapping and confining the edges of the facsimile. The frame 7t maybe applied to the platen in any way by which the facsimile may bereadily inserted and removed. The manner shown 5 consists in hinging itatj at one side of the platen, and providing a catch or snap 70 at theother side to hold it when closed, but various other means may beprovided. The facsimile might be held in many other and different waysthan by means of such a frame. The platen is in the construction shownprovided with guiding holes Z Z near its corners, which are so placed asto register with and fit over the guiding pins 0 c on the meter-dial. By

5 5 this means the application of the pad or platen to the dial to makethe impression is facilitated, the pad being presented in a properposition to the dial, while the facsimile is held in a fixed positionrelatively to the platen.

Hence by the proper relative construction of these parts thepresentation of the facsimile to the dial in proper position or registeris insured.

I propose to make simultaneous impressions on two or more facsimilesheets, for which purpose the facsimiles are preferably printed induplicate ortriplicate, and properly folded for insertionin theplaten.Theprickingpointsor spurs simultaneously puncture through the two,three, or more layers thus impressed. This feature constitutes one greatadvantage of my invention over those systems wherein it is proposed toapply ink to projections on the dial and to print an impression thereofon a piece of paper, since with such a system only one impression can beobtained. Such a system also involves the troublesome manipulation of aninking roller, which 15 ditficult to keep charged with the proper amountof ink, and inconvenient to carry and So apply. I

The particular construction of pins 0 and holes Z may be substituted byany other suitable kind of guides by which the presentation of thefacsimile in correct position against the meter-dial will be assured.The guiding surfaces should extend parallel to the direction of theneedles, to insure the correct presentation of the paper against theneedles. I do not limit myself to any of the mechanical means or detailsherewith shown, as these may readily be substituted by others operatingin substantially equivalent inann er.

I claim as my invention the following-defined novel features,substantially as herein- 5 before specified, namely:

1. The combination with a meter dial having pricking needles on itshands, and having an exposed or unobstructed face, of animpression-platen for taking readings from such meter dials, consistingof a block 8 distinct and separable from the meter, having a yieldingpad on its face and means for attaching thereto a fac-simile sheet forreoeiving the impression, and reciprocally-engagr05 ing guiding deviceson the meter and platen for guiding the platen into correct coincidencewith the dial, and causing it to be pressed thereagainst in directionparallel with the needles.

2. The combination with a meter dial having pricking needles on itshands, and having an exposed or unobstructed face, of animpression-platen for taking readings from such meter dials, consistingof a block 6 dis r15 tinct and separable from the meter, havingayielding pad on its face and means for attaching thereto a fac-similesheet for receiving the impression, and reciprocally-engag ing guidingdevices on the meter and platen for guiding the platen into correctcoincidence with the dial, consisting of guiding pins 0 c on the meterprojecting parallel with the needles, and corresponding holes or socketsZ Z in the platen, whereby the platen is guided in its movement towardthe dial in direction parallel to the needles.

3. The combination with a recording meter dial having pricking needleson its hands, and having an exposed or unobstructed face, of animpression platen for carrying a record facsimile consisting of a block6 separable from the meter having a yielding pad on its In witnesswhereof I have hereunto signed face and means for attaching thefacsimile my name in the presence of two subseriblng thereto, and ahandle f projecting from the witnesses.

back thereof and adapted to enable the fac- ALBERT B. HERRIOK. 5 silnileto be presented to the front of the dial Witnesses:

and pressed thereagainst in direction parallel GEO. O. HOLBERTON,

with the needles. HENR F- M

